Suction cleaners with tool storage



May 2, 1967 c. M. GANTZ ET AL 3,316,584

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /24 -25 Fig.

l l I I I I I ,r I I I 46/ 1 i z 1 32'. l E 48 May 2, 1967 c. M. GANTZ ET AL 3,316,584

sucwzou CLEANERS WITH TOOL STORAGE Filed Sept. 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ()fiice The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a structure which encloses the suction creating means, supports the dirt filtering bag and has a portion for inserting cleaning tools to store the latter in the cleaner.

An object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaner of the canister type having a body in which is mounted partition means for enclosing the motor-fan unit and providing a barrier to support a wall portion of the dirt filtering bag. Another object is to provide the partition means with a portion for storing cleaning tools used with the suction cleaner. A further object is to provide a structure formed from a single blank of fibreboard and which is adapted to be inserted in a housing of a suction cleaner to enclose the motor-fan suction creating unit, support the dirt filter and store cleaning tools used with the suction cleaner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein.

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the suction cleaner with the cover opened and the partition broken away to more clearly show the construction,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank forming the partition and showing the cut and scored lines prior to folding,

FIGURE 3 is a rear in folded condition cleaner, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the cleaner with the cover opened and parts broken away.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed comprises a body 10 having a base 11 and a cover 12. The base 11 includes a bottom wall 13, upstanding front and rear walls 14 and 15 respectively, and oppositely disposed side walls 16 and 17, the upstanding walls terminating in a marginal flange 9. The cleaner is supported on suitable unshown casters and wheels. A carrying handle 18 is secured to the base front wall 14 for carrying the cleaner with the body 10 suspended substantially vertically.

The cover 12 has a top wall 19 from which depends opposed side walls 20 and a rear wall 21, the depending walls and the front end 22 of the top wall terminating in a marginal flange 23 provided with a suitable gasket which seats against the base flange 9 when the cover 12 is in closed position. The front end 22 of the cover 12 is provided with extensions 24 forming part of a hinge and which receive pins 25 rotatably supported in brackets 26 mounted on the base front wall 14. A suitable latch 27 is mounted on the base rear wall 15 and engages the cover flange 23 adjacent the cover rear Wall 21 to lock the cover 12 in closed position. When the cover 12 is closed the handle 18 can be grasped to lift the cleaner for transporting it and the cleaner is stored in upended vertical position by resting the base rear wall 15 on a horizontal supporting surface. A suction air inlet 28 is formed in the cover top wall 19 for receiving one end of an unshown hose, and the opposite end of the hose is provided with a suitable surface cleaning tool in a manner understood in the art. A resilient sealing ring 29 is attached to the inner surface of the cover top wall 19 and has an opening in alignment with the inlet 28.

The walls of the base 11 define a housing 30 at the rear perspective view of the partition prior to assembly into the suction 3,316,584 Patented May 2, 1967 end portion of which is a suction creating motor-fan unit 31 supported on the base Wall 13 by a suitable bracket 32 provided with a stud 33. The motor-fan unit 31 has a perforated end cap 34 removably attached to the body of the motor-fan unit to provide a suction air inlet to the unit 31, and the air under high pressure is exhausted from the unit through a boot 34 connected to an outlet 35 in the base side wall 16. A suitable unshown switch controls the electric motor-fan unit 31.

Mounted on the base front wall 14 is a bag supporting bracket 36 having a rearwardly projecting bifurcated end 37 which slidably receives a collar 38 attached to the top wall 39 of a paper filter bag 40. The bag 40 and the collar 38 are provided with a dirty air inlet 41 which communicates with the suction air inlet 28 when the cover 12 is moved to its closed position, and the resilient ring 29 presses against the collar 38 to form an airtight seal with the bag inlet 41.

Disposed at the rear end of the housing 30 is a structure 45 for enclosing the motor-fan unit 31 and to provide a support for the filter bag 40 when inflated and also store cleaning tools used at the free end of the hose. The structure or partition 45 is constructed from a single blank 46 of corrugated paper, fibreboard or other suitable paperboard and is scored to provide creased folding or hinge lines shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 2, and the solid lines indicate that the stock material is cut through to form edges, apertures, slots and separation lines.

The blank 46, shown in FIGURE 2, is scored along lines 47 and 48 to provide a top wall 49 and opposite hinged end walls 50 and 51. Additional score lines 52 and 53 provide opposite side walls 54 and 55 hinged to the top wall 49. The rear end Wall 50 is scored at 56 parallel to line 47 to provide hinged sections 57 and 58 which partially fit around the rear arcuate portion of the motor-fan unit 31 adjacent the housing rear wall 15. An extension 59 of the rear end wall section 57 is formed by cut lines 60 and 61 and is provided with a locking tab 62 which enters a slot 63 formed in a portion 64 of the end wall 50 between the score line 65 and the cut edge 66. A flap 67 is formed adjacent the score line 65 and a cut line 68. A triangular extension 69 of the rear wall portion 58 is defined by score lines 70 and 71. A portion 72 of the side wall 55 defined by the cut lines 73 and 74 is creased inwardly of the top wall 49 along the score line 53 to provide an opening 75 which receives the exhaust boot 34 adjacent the housing side wall 16.

The partition side wall 54 has score lines 76 and 77 normal to the cut edge 78 to provide hinged sections 79 and 80 joined to the score line 52. Another section 81 is formed from the top wall 49 by score lines 82 and 83 and an adjacent section 84 is defined by the score lines 52 and 82 and the cut line 85.

In the top wall 49 are two openings 86 and 87 each of which receives a tubular part of a cleaning tool 88 and 89 respectively to store the latter.

A pair of spaced perforations 90 are provided in the front end wall 51 adjacent its cut edge 91, and another opening 92 is formed in the rear end wall section 58 to attach the structure 45 in the housing 30.

The partition 45 is formed into its proper configuration shown in FIGURE 3 prior to assembly in the cleaner housing 30 by folding the rear end wall sections 57 and 58 along the score lines 5647, and the sections 64 and 69 along the score lines 70 and 71 and the flap 67 along line 65 so that the locking tab 62 may be inserted in the opening 63 and arrange the rear wall 50 depending from the top wall 49. The flap 72 is folded along the score line 53 inwardly of the top wall 49, and the side wall 55 is also creased along the line 53 to provide a side wall de-. pending from the top wall 49. The section 81 is then folded along the lines 83 and 52, and the side wall portion 80 on the line 77. Thereafter the section 84 is folded along score line 82 and the side wall section 79 along line 76 to allow the section 84 to be arranged inwardly of the top wall 49 with the section 84 positioned beneath the opening 87 for supporting the tubular portion of the cleaning tool 89, and the cut edge 78 of the adjacent sections 79 and 80 is adapted to rest on the bottom wall 13 of the housing 30. The sections 79, 80, 81 and 82 when in folded position are arranged forwardly of the partition rear wall 50 so that the end cap 34 can be removably attached to the motor-fan unit 31. The front end wall 51 is then folded along the arcuate score line 48 to complete the folding operation.

The folded partition 45 is assembled in the cleaner housing 30 by inserting the marginal edge 93 of the rear end Wall 50 between the housing rear wall 15 and the motorfan unit 31. The opposite side walls 54 and 55 are disposed respectively adjacent the cleaner housing side walls 17 and 16 with the flap 72 folded back inwardly of the top wall 49 to rest on the exhaust boot 34. The folded sections 79, 80, 81 and 84 are positioned forwardly of the filter end cap 34 to provide an opening so that the cap 34 may be removed from the motor-fan unit 31 while the structure 45 is attached to the cleaner housing 30. The structure 30 is removably attached to the cleaner by pl-acing the opening 92 about the stud 33 on the motor supporting bracket 32 and the front end wall 51 is attached to a pair of brackets 95 on the base bottom wall 13 by means of screws 96 passing through the openings 90.

It will be noted that the top wall 49 is spaced upwardly from the bottom wall 13 of the housing 30 to provide space for receiving tubular portions of the cleaning tools 88 and 89 when the latter are inserted in the openings 86 and 87 and supported on the tool carrying portion of the partition 45.

In addition the front end wall 51 of the partition 45 cooperates with the housing bottom wall 13, side walls 16, 17 and front wall 14 to form a filter chamber adjacent the front end of the housing 30. The front end wall 51 of the partition 45 acts as a barrier to support the expanded side wall 98 of the bag when the motor-fan unit 31 is operating and also supports the bag wall 98 when the cleaner is upended into its storage position. The top wall 49 of the partition 45 is spaced from the top wall 19 of the cover 12 when the latter is closed to permit free passage of air between the bag chamber to the perforated end cap 34 of the suction creating motor-fan unit 31.

When the cleaner is not in use the cover 12 is closed and the cleaner is stored in upended vertical position by placing the rear wall 15 on a supporting surface. In this position the lower area of the side wall 98 of the paper filter bag 40 sags downwardly under the weight of the accumulated dirt and rests against the barrier 51 of the partition 4-5.

When it is desired to perform a cleaning operation the body is supported on its wheels, the cover 12 opened and the desired tool 88 or 89 removed from the tool carrier formed in the top wall 49 of the partition 45 and attached to the hose. The cover 12 is then closed and the hose secured to the suction air inlet 28 to connect the cleaning nozzle with the bag 40 in a manner known in the art. The motor is energized to create suction pressure within the housing 30 between the base 11 and the closed cover 12. This suction pressure extends to the cleaning tool attached to the free end of the hose being moved along the surface to be cleaned and causes dirt-laden air to travel through the hose into the bag 40 which filters the air and the cleaned air passes between the top wall 49 of the partition 45 and the cover top wall 19 into the inlet 34 of the motor-fan unit 31 which discharges the air under pressure through the outlet 35 in the base side wall 16 to atmosphere. The barrier 51 supports the expanded side wall 98 of the filter bag 40. When the cleaning operation is completed the selected tool is removed from the hose and stored on the top wall 49 of the partition 45 by insertion into the proper opening 86 or 87.

While we have shown and described but one embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. We do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a suction cleaner of the canister type, means defining a body having a suction chamber to receive parts of the suction cleaner, a motor-fan suction creating unit in said suction chamber, partition means in said suction chamber and having a portion cooperating with said body to enclose said motor-fan unit in said suction chamber, said partition means including another portion for inserting cleaning tools of said cleaner into said body to store said tools.

2. In a suction cleaner of the canister type, means defining a body having a suction chamber to receive parts for the suction cleaner, dirt filtering means, means mounting said dirt filtering means in said suction chamber, and partition means arranged in said suction chamber and having a portion cooperating with said body to define a filter chamber for said dirt filtering means, and said portion providing a barrier engaging said dirt filtering means to support the latter, and said partition means including a storage portion for cleaning tools comprising openings in said partition means for inserting parts of the cleaning tools into said suction chamber.

3. A structure providing an enclosure for a motor-fan unit and a support for a dirtfilter arranged in a suction cleaner casing of the canister type and formed from a single blank of paperboard comprising: a top wall, opposite end walls hinged to said top wall and depending therefrom into a configuration adapted to be mounted within the casing of the suction cleaner, one of said end walls and said top wall arranged at an angle to each other to enclose the motor-fan unit positioned in the cleaner casing, and the other of said end walls depending downwardly from said top wall between the motor-fan unit and dirt filter to form a barrier in the cleaner casing to engage the dirt filter and support the latter in the cleaner casing.

4. A structure as described in claim 3 and means on said to wall intermediate said opposite end walls for securing cleaning tools used with the suction cleaner.

5. A structure as described in claim 3, and a portion of said top wall having a connected section arranged inwardly thereof to define an opening for entrance of air into the motor-fan unit.

6. A structure providing an enclosure for a motor-fan unit, a support for a dirt filter and a support for cleaning tools of a suction cleaner of the canister type and formed from a single blank of paperboard comprising: a top wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls hinged to said top wall and depending therefrom into a configuration adapted to be mounted within the suction cleaner, one of said end walls and one of said side walls arranged at an angle with a portion of said top wall to enclose a part of the motor-fan unit positioned in the cleaner, portions of the other side wall and said top wall having connected sections arranged at an angle to their respective walls and inwardly thereof to define an opening for entrance of air into the motor-fan unit, the other of said end walls depending from said top wall between the motor-fan unit and dirt filter to form a barrier to engage the dirt filter and support it in the cleaner, and means on said top wall for securing thereto cleaning tools used with the suction cleaner.

7. In a suction cleaner of the canister type, means defining a body having a suction chamber to receive parts of the suction cleaner, a motor-fan suction creating unit, means mounting said motor-fan unit in said suction chamber at one end portion thereof, dirt filtering means, means mounting said dirt filtering means at the opposite end portion of said suction chamber, and partition means having a first portion cooperating With said body to enclose said motor-fan unit at said one end portion of said suction chamber, said partition means including a second portion projecting into the area of said opposite end portion of said suction chamber to provide a barrier engaging said dirt filtering means to support the latter, and said partition means including a third portion for inserting cleaning tools of said cleaner into said suction chamber to store said tools.

8. In a suction cleaner as described in claim 7, and said third portion arranged between said enclosing and barrier portions for inserting cleaning tools of said cleaner into said suction chamber to store said tools.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Lang.

Meyerhoefer.

Harnala 15-323 Humphrey 15-347 X Johnson l5323 X Segesman 15323 Grifliths 15-323 Denmark.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SUCTION CLEANER OF THE CANISTER TYPE, MEANS DEFINING A BODY HAVING A SUCTION CHAMBER TO RECEIVE PARTS OF THE SUCTION CLEANER, A MOTOR-FAN SUCTION CREATING UNIT IN SAID SUCTION CHAMBER, PARTITION MEANS IN SAID SUCTION CHAMBER AND HAVING A PORTION COOPERATING WITH SAID BODY TO ENCLOSE SAID MOTOR-FAN UNIT IN SAID SUCTION CHAMBER, 